Abstract

The Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolates in Korea, showing different drug resistances, were analyzed by comparing large restriction fragment (LRF) patterns produced y digestion of genomic DNA with infrequent-cutting endonucleases of SpeI, AsnI and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). SpeI and AsnI allowed with AsnI and SpeI, strains yielded an absolutely identical pattern for Korean type's mycobacteria even though they showed different drug resisstance. However, when three M. tuberculosis strains, showing drug resistance, were digested with XbaI, patterns were different from those of the other M. tuberculosis strians which are susceptible to drugs. This study reveals that the comparison of chromosomal restriction patterns is very useful as an additional aid for the differentiation and identification of M. tuberculosis strains showing drug resistances.

• Keywords: Mycobacteria; genome; pulsed-field gel electrophoresis